Before the All-Star Match -- which promised a surprise to rival TI4's Techies reveal -- TI4 runner-up VG took on MVP Phoenix, the Southeast Asia qualifier team with a terrific run at TI5. After that, Virtus Pro, who earned an amazing victory to advance, ended up against Secret, whose surprising drop to the Lower Bracket made them a feared opponent for anyone hoping to climb up to the Grand Finals. Plus, EHOME -- who EG knocked out of the Upper Bracket -- fought for survival.

MVP Phoenix vs. Vici Gaming

Well, game one started off interesting, with MVP drafting Slark and Vici playing the first Morphling of The International 5.

Things looked good for MVP early, with their aggressive, highly mobile team fight draft, but Vici flipped a switch after the laning phase and became a systematic murder machine. Vici’s coordination, damage, escapability, and ability to tank any damage onto Hao’s phenomenal Morphling let them shred Vici’s Heroes and buildings, leading to a decisive game one victory for Vici.

When MVP drafted a core Naga Siren for kpii in game two, Vici responded with a Broodmother pick that walked all over poor kpii’s lane. Naga played it safe and bought a Radiance at 19 minutes, but the farm sort of stopped there. With the help of Fenrir’s Earthshaker in mid, Super’s Lina tossed Laguna Blade out like it was nothing to earn healthy kill count early. VG didn’t stop, running over an MVP that went for big, fun, risky plays. VG picked MVP apart, pushed into base, picked them apart again, and won the series 2-0. MVP's March will now retire.

Both teams left their main stage booths with big smiles.

Team Secret vs. Virtus Pro

Virtus Pro’s defiant draft caught everyone off guard. An early Silencer pick? Magnus? Medusa? Forget Secret as the volatile, unpredictable team: VP is up to something. They wanted to slay the giant.

The giant hit back hard. Though Arteezy lost his lane as Templar Assassin early against Silencer, Secret formed up for aggressive fights, claiming groups of VP’s Heroes. Medusa needed room and time, but ended up stuck in her (constantly invaded, warded) jungle to farm slowly. Ruthless Snowball/Vacuum/Echoslam combos devastated VP, whose Magnus never got his chance to shine. Secret took the first game with relative ease.

VP made a powerful turn of the tides in game two with a tremendous Visage pick for Lil, who went 13-4. Arteezy’s Luna accomplished next to nothing for the full 40 minutes, while Puppey’s surprise Enigma pick was crushed beneath the boot of a carry Silencer. s4 couldn’t carry the entire game for Secret, who were pummeled by Global Silence, Storm Spirit damage, and disables from Earthshaker and Lina. VP took control to tie the series 1-1.

Secret could not afford to play that poorly again.

They mostly did not.

Zai was the standout MVP, without question, landing impeccable Vacuum/Wall combos to kill/keep VP away. No fewer than three fights turned because Zai single-handedly inverted the momentum. Kuroky’s Rubick was less exciting, but his clutch Spell Steals and lifts still contributed to keeping Arteezy alive.

Arteezy was able to farm huge amounts of gold for that reason — Secret’s draft was engineered to protect Arteezybefore and during fights. His Shadow Fiend was incredibly powerful

s4’s Queen of Pain went as poor as the previous game, where he died too often despite getting essential items, and he achieved very little in combat. Puppey struggled too. As the Dazzle, he was the primary target of G’s Storm Spirit, who mercilessly cut him down before most fights could begin — thus making it nearly impossible for Secret to survive.

VP’s Drow Ranger/Visage combo — the first of the tournament — paid off huge. Illidan shredded through structures with Drow and dealt great damage to heroes. The team fight and lockdown from VP was brilliant, and despite Secret’s spectacular, heart-stopping defense, a stressful game three concluded with VP as the victor.

Virtus Pro became giant slayers.

Secret fell 2-1 and was eliminated from the International as a top eight contender — commendable, but a far cry from the first place sure-thing many thought they’d witness.

Vici Gaming vs. EHOME

Vici’s game one win almost became an EHOME comeback. The steady but unremarkable lead Vici held throughout culminated with a terrific team fight deep in EHOME’s base. The defending team nearly killed five until a flurry of skills from Pugna, Earthshaker, Disruptor, and Gyrocopter annihilated EHOME who quickly called "gg."

LaNm almost turned things around before 30 minutes for EHOME when his Rubick stole Tusk’s snowball to save his team in a big fight they then won — but Hao’s Anti-Mage was troublesome for EHOME in game two throughout. With a Moon Shard in his mouth and an Aegis in his inventory, Anti-Mage eviscerated any Hero silly enough to buy back to defend their base.

VG won 2-0, which put them undefeated on the Main Event stage.

All-Star Match

Valve introduced a 20-player, 10 vs. 10 multiplayer mode for Dota 2 by inviting 10 audience members to play with 10 pros. One of the audience members, dressed in Pudge cosplay, was Na'vi's Dendi.

Day 5 saw LGD and VP fighting for their lives, while Evil Geniuses went head to head with the unstoppable CDEC.